S60137
VOWLES, Bernard Joseph
| Service Number: | 3949 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 2 August 1915, Enlisted at Adelaide, SA |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 10th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Adelaide South Australia, 12 October 1885 |
| Home Town: | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Ethelton, South Australia, 4 September 1951, aged 65 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Cheltenham Cemetery, South Australia Section F, Drive A, Path 24, Grave 425. Interred on 6 September 1951 |
| Memorials: | Adelaide St Patrick's Parish Honor Board |
World War 1 Service
| 2 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3949, 10th Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Adelaide, SA | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Dec 1915: | Involvement Private, 3949, 10th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: RMS Malwa embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
| 2 Dec 1915: | Embarked Private, 3949, 10th Infantry Battalion, RMS Malwa, Adelaide | |
| 29 Jan 1918: | Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 3949, 10th Infantry Battalion, Discharged at the 4th Military District as medically unfit |
My grandfather Bernard J Vowles
Bernard Joseph Vowles lived with his mother and sister in Adelaide SA. He was a bare knuckle boxer to earn money. It appears his father deserted his family and went back to England where he bigimously married.
His army record shows he was fined 2 pound for stealing 51/2 pound of dripping. He married and raised 7 children. He worked as a linesman and built the family home at Glanville Blocks SA but when he lost his job he moved to Mary St Ethelton and worked as a bottle collector with a horse and trap. He also drove the Nuns from the Semaphore Convent from place to place and ran the cinema reels at Semaphore Odeon Picture Theatre. Each Christmas he erected lights down Semaphore Road for the Christmas season.
Submitted 3 June 2020 by Patricia Jarrett
Biography contributed by Carol Foster
Address at the time of enlistment was given as Totham Street, Adelaide, SA.
Son of Henry Vowles and Ellen Vowles nee Dempsey of Adelaide, SA
Next of kin given as his sister Elsie Vowles of Goodwood Orphanage, Goodwood, SA.
Commenced return to Australia on 27 September 1917 aboard HT Suevic disembarking on 18 November 1917
Medals: 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Husband of Mary Jane Vowles
At the time of his death he was residing at Ethelton, SA.